Nov 23, 2016 9 min read

George Eliot once wrote, “What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?”

Thank you, Washington County, for making life a little easier for your food-insecure neighbors through your generous donations to the 2016 2000 Turkeys campaign.

Your contributions, which stand at $136,649, make it possible for the Greater Washington County Food Bank to provide Thanksgiving meals to more than 6,000 families who rely on assistance from the food bank and its pantries to make sure they have enough food.

We’re grateful for the donations made in memory of loved ones, to the businesses and organizations who organized their own fundraisers for 2000 Turkeys, for the individuals who pulled out their checkbooks and dropped a check in the mail, and for the willingness of community members to lend their neighbors a helping hand.

We’re thankful that you hear our pleas on WJPA radio and in the Observer-Reporter in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and respond.

On behalf of the Food Bank, the 2000 Turkeys board and, most importantly, the families who will share a Thanksgiving dinner because of your generosity, we thank you and wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

Bill & Bernice Pagano $30

In Memory of our Parents from Bob & Georgia Riley $1000

Thomas & Peggy Northrop $100

Bill & Rose Ann Massengil $30

Carrie Casciola $50

Ron & Sherri Van Horne $100

Bruce & Beth Graham $20

Buffalo AG 4H Club $100

David & Mary Beth Baker $25

In Loving Memory of our parents Howdy Naser & Anne and Andrew Carrozza $25

Robert C. Evans Jr. DDS $50

Paul & Nancy Krepps $50

Alfred & Mary Ann Friend $30

Evano & Cecelia Lenzi $25

Al & Marianne Sopko $25

Heidi Pankopf $50

George Reynolds $50

In Memory of William A Feldman by Lillian & Michael Husenits $25

Dennis & Deborah Standiford $100

In Loving Memory of David & Stella Walker by Paul & Becky Carson $50

In Loving Memory of Sam & Virginia Carson by Paul & Becky Carson $50

In Memory of Jerry Adams by Ralph, Dyane, Tyler & Myresa Troiano $40

James & Betty Abbott $25

David & Diana Meeks $100

Mary Jo Andrews 50

Thomas & Jean Wilt $25

In Memory of Larry T. Hewitt & Robert B. Wharton, Jr. by Laureen Mellars $25

Knights of Columbus Wash. Council 1083 $250

Maxine Wilson $25

Adolph & Sheila Schilinski $40

EQT Corporation $1000

Lydia & Richard Kozloff $30

Emily Shade $25

In Honor of our sons Joey & Gregg by Nina & Joseph Tustin $50

William & Patricia Brooks $25

In Loving Memory of Mariah Zambelli, Daughter & Mommy Myra & Alexis $25

Nina Gysegem $150

John & Linda Fetchen $30

In Memory of Sandra McCabe by husband Jack McCabe $50

Susan Orrick $25

Robert & Shirley Donaldson $50

Rebecca McAdoo $25

Gail & John Mathias $25

Ola & William Jackson $25

Robert & Sharon Aloia $25

Debra Rea $25

JoAnn Kulesa $35

Darlene & Lou Lignelli $25

David & Cheryl Verner $100

Ronald & Geraldine Diaz $100

In Memory of Elaine V Mannina by John & Carole Pankas $75

Della Adams $50

Mar & Jim Hancher $50

In Memory of my husband Paul Barnes from Patty Barnes $50

Charles & Diana Allen $25

Marlene & William Rhoades $25

Jerome Skowvron $15

In Memory of Margaret J Mohr by Richard Mohr $40

Independent Club of Muse $100

Gene & Kathleen McDaniel $50

In Loving Memory of Ray & Anna Valek & Leamond & Beryl Smiley by Bill and Linda Valek $50

James & Susan Gregorich $30

Gerard & Nancy Weiss $100

Patricia James $25

Leonard & Eileen Laabs $100

Marsha Knapik $50

Mary & David Standiford $100

Dovsheks Service $25

Butch & Rosemarie Efaw $20

Edward & C. Beverly McVeigh $20

Ryan Ruper t $500

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Meeks $50

Gregory & Vivian Prentice $100

Nancy McGill $25

In Memory of my dad Harry F. Sanders by Marian R. Sanders $50

Caroline, Mark & Melissa Hall $35

Carol & Jon Adler $50

In Memory of Fred L. Andy-husband, Fred Andy-son & Corey Andy-grandson by Wynette Andy $50

In Loving Memory of my dear son, Christopher by mother, Saundra Edmond $50

Willard & Rosemarie Boswell $10

Virginia & Paul Lukas $25

Laurie & James Cadez $25

In Loving Memory of Phyliss Fowler, Michael Sparks & Joyce Fowler by Bob Fowler $100

Fraternal Order of Bears $450

In Memory of Tom & Christine Russell by Thomas Russell $50

Judy & Martin Beichner $200

In Loving Memory of Eric Kline by wife Suzie $50

Jerry & Cindy Interval $50

Daniel Halulko $50

David Bramer $50

John & Toni Corsie $30

William & Susan Peffer $25

William & Rosemary Tarr $25

Larry & Karen Headley $50

Daniel & Janice Rowsick $50

Larry & Ann Kelley $25

Pioneer Trails Cluster $200

Sally Pallesco $20

Joseph & Carolyn Rendziak $25

Mark & Donna Kirschner $25

Donna & David Holliday $30

Joseph & Christina Tomecsko $20

Washington Psychological $100

Lagonda Machine, LLC $1,080

Linda & Paul Sroka $30

Janet & Anthony Conn $25

In Memory of Bernie Smith Sr. from wife Carol $25

Phyllis & Adrian Vanstrien MD $50

Amelia Pomfret $20

Robert Thornton $25

Frank & Janet Angott $30

Charles & Bonnie Hines $20

In Memory of my husband Byron Smialek by wife Darlene Smialek & Family $200

Loretta Stanek $25

In Memory of Byron Smialek , anonymous $50

Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos, All Saints Greek Orthodox Church $100

Severin Family $20

John & Anita Stanko $20

Sam & LaVerne Messina $20

Madeline & John Chopp $25

In Memory of Tony Abruzzi by the Beatty Family $25

Bruce & Cheryl Carson $25

Avery United Methodist Church $100

Jan Marley $40

In Memory of Earl Miller by Mary Miller $25

Heather & Eric Quedenfeld $50

In Loving Memory of Don & Sandra Young by Phillip & Karen Tarentino $50

Yaszmin, Douglas, Brady, Ellionna Kotar $25

Anonymous $100

Barry & Barbara Charriere $40

Shepherd’s Finance, LLC $50

Robert & JoAnn Lloyd $25

The Train Gang of Washington County $500

Washington Square Flower Shop $50

Ronald Matteson $50

Greater Canonsburg Senior Citizens $200

Evonne Somsky $100

Joanne, JR & Jen Reck $50

Jeff Smith $50

Bill & Charlene Totterdale $25

BC Coleman Sr./Jr., Coleman’s Masonry $100

Washington Elks Lodge #0776 $500

Private James Perry VFW Post 191 $500

Gary Craig $20

Dave & Janice Sikora $25

Sean King, W&J SID $20

Jack Jones $50

Charles & Beth Ann Moyar $75

Hanlds & Belcher Families $50

Matrix NAC $500

Joyce & William Ursic $100

Suzanne McCord $25

Jim & Ruth Ann Donaldson $25

Kenneth & Susan Boone $50

Gaylord & Helen Haines $50

Nancy Blakeway $50

Pamela & Frank Famularo $25

Willia & Gene Johnson $25

Deborah Testa $20

Mary Ann & Michael Wessel $50

Jean Howard $20

George & Debra Howard-Snyder $20

John & Debra Swart $100

Timothy & Robin Matyas $50

Naida Handyside $20

Patrick & Deborah Guyton $25

Karen & Bob Thompson $25

Ricky & Jo Ann Kosarik $100

Samuel & Kimberly Stimmel $50

Charles & Catherine McCullougth $20

Gerilyn & Timothy Barnes $20

In Memory of Tom Marshman by Shirley Steele 25

Mary Ann Fox $50

Women of Southwestern PA, Inc. $100

Chuck & Nancy Neff $30

Pete & Mildred Hendricks $30

In Memory of Richard & Ronald Cianelli by Ed & Barb Cianelli $25

In Memory of Carolyn Quilien by Dorothea & Rick Hyk $60

In Memory of Edward Almasy by Rose & Family $40

Wilbur & Jo Ann Holt $50

Rene Saut $50

Charles & Blanche Slates $25

Key Family $50

Bobbi & John Kapis $50

Amy & Jay West $50

Mark Sr., Gaeta & Markie Copeland $25

James & Roberta McElhaney $50

Ethel Rankin $20

Janet M. & John F. Bell $50

Bob & Martha Williams $25

Joseph & Linda LaRocka $50

In Honor of our sister, Sarah Stiffler by Joanne & Mario Mancinelli $20

David’s Limited $50

Joseph Mals $35

Anonymous $75

In Memory of Jackie Jarosz by Deborah Brower $25

Roy & Kimberly Oyler $100

Lee Mason $25

In Memory of Anthony, Emily & Darlene Cwiklinski & Joseph & Teresa Phillips by Ray & Patty Phillips $50

Bob & Rosemary Bigley $50

Richard Delprato $25

Jean & Richard Long $25

Charles & Victoria Knox $25

Hunter J. Rubis $25

David & Carole Wallach $50

In Memory of my mother, Mary Braddock & brother, Jesse Braddock by Pat Braddock-Steiner $25

Terry & Frederick Hutson $50

Margaret Fowkes $25

Washington Rotary Club $200

Donald Brookman $50

George & Joan Postlethwait $25

James & Lisa McGraw $25

Robert & Mona Mercante $50

Gerald Lowery $100

Dolores Bednarski $100

Michael & Lynn Bedillion $25

In Memory of Gordon B Greenlee by Barrett & Sara Greenlee $100

Ray & Gerri Karas $50

In Memory of John Difilippo by wife Genevieve $20

In Tribute to beloved classmate, Byron Smialek by Margaret Fischer $25

Robert & Janet Racko $45

JoEllen Conaway $25

Chris & Lydia Hafenbrack $25

Perry & Dorothy Pinto $50

Mark F. Geary, Attorney $25

Michael & Deanna Warco $25

Dale & Sharon Whitmer $25

Thomas & Laraine Zawatski $30

Liberty United Methodist Church $200

Anonymous $220

Roger D McElhaney Jr. $30

Kang’s Black Belt Academ, E. Jeffrey Joxy $1500

Mark & Rebecca Livesay $50

DRH Auto Detailing, Ronald & Derek Humphreys & Pap $25

John & Mary Beth Morton $50

In Loving Memory of Gilmore W. by Linda Stough $50

In Memory of our Parents: Floryan J., Sr. & Susan Sendora from Floryan, Jr. & Bernadette $25

First Baptist Church, Deacons gift $100

Sandra Hart Pettit $50

In Memory of Rosalie Smialek Lowery by James & Helen Hunter $100

In Honor of Fairhill Manor Christian Church Family from FMCC CROPERS $50

In Loving Memory of our Parents, Kay, Terry, Bill & Beverly, given by Carmen & Peggy Oliverio $30

Anonymous $20

Millie Coen, in memory of the Gleba family

In memory of Mae Baker by Susan Lewis

In memory of Louis Kovacicek by Bertha Kovacicek and family $25

In memory of John C. Lincoln by Anonymous $130

Donald and Joyce Bailey $100

Washington County Young Marines $600

Mark Wolfe $100

Liberty Lumber $2,000

In memory of Frances T. Blyth by Roger and Elena Blyth $30

In memory of Raymond “Fuzzy” Byers by Jack Patress $100

In memory of the Mohr family by Anonymous $100

In memory of our dad, Duane L. White by Billie Jo, Butch and Julie $20

In memory of my husband Mike Byrne by Julie Byrne $20

Barbara Gibbs $100

The Kollar family $250

Merrill Lynch South Hills $100

Sunnyside Supply $300

Gyrodata $2,000